GRAMMAR TIME Direct Speech X Indirect Speech By

GRAMMAR TIME Direct Speech X Indirect Speech By Lilian Marchesoni

You are a liar! “You are a liar!, ” shouted the man. Direct speech shows you exactly what the speaker said. Quotation marks are used in direct speech.

You are a liar! The man said that he was a liar! Reported speech reports the speaker’s words. It doesn’t use the speaker’s exact words or quotation marks.

In reported speech, the verb often shifts to a different (past) tense. You must change verb tenses, pronouns and adverbs of time to restate someone’s words. My children are on vacation! The use of “that” is optional She said (that) her children were on vacation!

Follow these rules for sequence of tenses in reported speech.

Simple Present Simple Past I go to school every day. She said (that) she went to school every day.

Simple Past Perfect I graduated yesterday. He said (that) he had graduated the day before.

Present Perfect Past Perfect I’ve just lost my car keys. He said (that) he had just lost his car keys.

Present Continuous Past Continuous I’m going to have a test tomorrow. He said (that) he was going to have a test the next day.

Future (will) Would I’ll buy another map. She said (that) she would buy another map.

Present Modals Past Modals You must eat all your food. She said (that) he had to eat all his food. I can cook very well. She said (that) she could cook very well.